Open AccessSingle‐Cell Transcriptomics of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reveal Age‐Related Cellular Subpopulation Depletion and Impaired Regenerative Function
Author(s) -
Khong Sacha M. L.,
Lee Ming,
Kosaric Nina,
Khong Danika M.,
Dong Yixiao,
Hopfner Ursula,
Aitzetmüller Matthias M.,
Duscher Dominik,
Schäfer Richard,
Gurtner Geoffrey C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.2934
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , biology , stem cell , transcriptome , microbiology and biotechnology , regeneration (biology) , cell , bone marrow , stem cell transplantation for articular cartilage repair , immunology , adult stem cell , cellular differentiation , clinical uses of mesenchymal stem cells , cancer research , gene expression , gene , genetics
Although bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) are widely recognized as promising therapeutic agents, the age‐related impacts on cellular function remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we found that BM‐MSCs from young donors healed wounds in a xenograft model faster compared with their aged counterparts ( p < .001). Given this significant healing advantage, we then used single‐cell transcriptomic analysis to provide potential molecular insights into these observations. We found that the young cells contained a higher proportion of cells characterized by a higher expression of genes involved in tissue regeneration. In addition, we identified a unique, quiescent subpopulation that was exclusively present in young donor cells. Together, these findings may explain a novel mechanism for the enhanced healing capacity of young stem cells and may have implications for autologous cell therapy in the extremes of age. S tem C ells 2019;37:240–246